Device for filling of containers, particularly bags, with loose material

ABSTRACT

Machine for filling bags with a flowable dry material and particularly for rapidly filling successively presented bags with such material as flower soil, peat, fertilizer, plant seeds or the like. Said device utilizes a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, fingers onto which a bag may be placed, which fingers are then automatically actuated to spread same apart under a resilient force which force is sufficient to cause the fingers to stretch and distort said bag slightly and thereby hold it firmly. The bag is then filled, preferably by automatic means, after which said fingers are moved towards each other and the bag released. Said fingers may be actuated by a cam operated linkage system and may either be of relatively narrow extent or may carry pads of substantial area which conform into the internal contour of the container. Where the latter is used and the bags are not excessively distorted around said contact pads, the containers may be removed therefrom by a ram which both compacts the material within the bag and drives same off from said pads. The device as described may be driven independently if desired or may be associated with and driven from a conventional potting and repotting machine.

I Unlmd States Patent 1 [111 3,748,823

Mayer July 31, 1973 [54] DEVICE FOR FILLING OF CONTAINERS, 3,448,555 6/1969 Shabram 53/187 X PARTICULARLY BAGS, WITH LOOSE 3,618,292 11/1971 Rademacher 53/258 X MATERIAL Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee [75] Inventor: Mayer, Assistant Examinerl-lorace M. Culver geldenhelm-MeTgelstetten, Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn ermany [73] Assignee: Mayer KG., ABSTRACT Heidenheim-Mergelstetten, Machine for filling bags with a flowable dry material Germany and particularly for rapidly filling successively presented bags with such material as flower soil, peat, fertil- [22] 1971 izer, plant seeds or the like. Said device utilizes a pair [21] Appl. No.2 133,324 of spaced, substantially parallel, fingers onto which a bag may be placed, which fingers are then automaticall actuated to s read same a art under a resilient [30] Foreign Apphcauon Pnonty Data forc e which force sufficient t: cause the fingers to 1970 Germany P 20 17 6163 stretch and distort said bag slightly and thereby hold it Mar, 26, 1971 Germany P 21 14 829.8 The g is then filled preferably automatic means, after which said fingers are moved towards each [52] U.S. Cl. 53/187, 53/384 other and the bag release Said fingers may be actw ated a cam operated linkage System and y either [58] Field of Search 53/187, 384, 253, be of relatively narrow extent or may carry pads of 53/255 261 stantial area which conform into the internal contour of the container. Where the latter is used and the bags [5 6] References C'ted are not excessively distorted around said contact pads, UNITED STATES PATENTS the containers may be removed therefrom by a ram 2,234,951 3/1941 Belcher 53/187 which both compacts the material within the bag and 2,697,543 12/1954 Sawyer et al. 53/187 drives same off from said pads. The device as described 2,899,738 8/1959 Beebe,

53/187 X may be driven independently if desired or may be assog; g f

ciated with and driven from a conventional potting and arrac ou 3,197,936 8/1965 Messmerf 53/187 x machme' 3,264,796 8/1966 Tomczak et al. 53/384 X 23 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIED JUL 3| um SHEET 1 [If 8 Fly. 7

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SHEET 8 UF 8 FIG. 10 CONTROL 26' 26 A g i INVEN TOR MOFG 44/! V0 DEVICE FOR FILLING OF CONTAINERS, PARTICULARLY BAGS, WITH LOOSE MATERIAL The invention relates to a device for filling of at least one container, particularly a bag, with loose material, like flower soil, peat, fertilizer, plant seed and the like, or a bag serving as a substitute for a flower pot together with at least one device for gripping, opening and holding of the container.

The purpose of the invention is to improve the filling of containers, particularly bags, with the abovementioned materials, and to do so in production quantities. Furthermore it is a purpose of the invention to insert one or more plants into said soil in an economically simple manner directly after the filling of flower soil into the container.

According to the invention there is provided for attaining this purpose a device which has at least one spreading mechanism with two holding members, a compound lever arrangement for moving the holding members toward and away from one another and a control device for moving the compound lever arrangement.

The device of the invention premits an extensive automating of the bag filling operation. Such bags can be easily placed onto the holding members when the holding members are spaced apart only a small distance. When the opening mechanism moves the holding members apart, the bag is opened. The control device is adjusted in such a manner that the bag remains in this position until it is filled. When the bag is used as a flower pot substitute, it is opened until the flower soil has been inserted, one or more plant holes have been made therein and the desired plants placed into said holes. The holders are then moved together and the filled bag removed. The opening and holding device of the invention can be used in connection with known potting and repotting devices for flower pots. Since the feeding of fill material in measured amounts can be done completely automatically with known potting devices, a manual operation is necessary only for putting the bags on the holding members and, if necessary, for removing the filled bags. The removal process can also be done automatically by permitting the filled bag to escape by its own weight from the holding members when same move together.

It is advantageous to construct the holding member in the form of an arm with spaced fingers which fingers abut the bag walls. The bags do not need to be themselves secured on the so constructed holders. They are held with their upper edge zone above the arms which have their smallest distance from one another in such a manner that they are within this edge zone. When the arms move away from one another, the fingers engage the inside of the bag edges and open same. It is only necessary to control the spread position of the arms in such a manner that the fingers abut the bag walls under a pressure which creates a sufficient friction on the bag walls, or a slight bending out of the bag, and by such friction prevent the sliding off of the bag. Since no fastening elements for the bags need to be operated, the application can be effected very quickly. The freeing of the filled bag occurs during the moving together of the arms through which the fingers are disengaged from the bag wall. Moreover the holding members constructed as arms with fingers have a very simple but strong structure and one which is safe from trouble by reason of its having no releasable fastening elements for the bag.

According to a preferred embodiment, the opening mechanism has a support element which is adjustable in elevation by the control device and has a compound lever arrangement movably hingedly connected thereto through the adjustment. An accumulator loaded opposite the control device can be advantageously associated with the support element. When the accumulator effects one position of the support element corresponding to the longer time period of one operation, namely the holding of the bag in opened position, the influence of the contol device is necessary only for moving together the holding members for releasing the filled bag and again for moving apart the holding members after the receiving of the next empty bag. The elevation adjustment of one support element can be obtained with simple structural measures. This obtains in a simple manner a strong construction and one which will resist the contamination which in such a device is unavoidable.

The support element can be constructed as a T- shaped lever and one compound lever arrangement can be hingedly connected to each end of its cross beam.

Advantageously each compound lever arrangement consists of a first swinging lever which is hingedly connected at one of its ends to the cross beam and a second swinging lever carrying the arm with the fingers. Said arm projects vertically from the lever and consists of a toggle lever which connects both swinging levers, which is hingedly connected to the first swinging lever and is secured with the second swinging lever of a common axis of rotation. Said axis is supported rotatably on the holder of the device. The cooperation of the compound lever arrangement with the support element effects in a simple manner at its elevation adjustment the moving of the arms together and apart. Aside from the projecting arms, all parts move in planes which are parallel to one another and are arranged closely adjacent one another. This results in a space-saving construction. A change of the path of swing of the arms can be obtained easily by exchanging one element in each compound lever arrangement. The machine can thus be adjusted easily to any desired size of bag and can be adjusted to a wide working scope.

The arms can be arranged releasably on the second swinging lever. Thus they can also be exchanged in a simple manner if needed to accommodate changes in the bag size. In addition for the same purpose at least one finger can be mounted longitudinally adjustably on the arm.

In an advantageous further development of the inventive device, a longitudinal strip is placed in a position which approximately extends the bag wall of each arm. The two strips permit an accumulation of plant soil to be obtained beyond the upper edge of the bag, namely either directly during the filling if thereafter a settling and compression of the contents is expected or by the formation of an earth ball during the drilling of a plant hole which earth ball is needed after the insertion of the plant for filling the hole and compressing.

The holder of the device can advantageously be provided with a protecting wall, in front of which is arranged at least the holding members and behind which is arranged at least a portion of the opening mechanism. The portion of the opening mechanism which is arranged behind the protecting wall is thus protected in a simple manner against contamination by the fill material. The protecting wall advantageously contains the bearing for the axis of rotation of the toggle lever and is penetrated by said axis. In front of the protecting wall, thus in the fill zone, there is only the second swinging lever and the holding members.

Several devices of the invention can be arranged one behind the other movably longitudinally of a path of movement in a filling and/or a potting and repotting machine. They can thus pass one after the other past an operating point where the bags are mounted onto the holding members, an independent filling station and, if necessary a plant hole drilling device. Furthermore they can then be guided past a second operating point where a plant is inserted into the plant hole. Moreover, at the end of the device, a storage or conveyor unit can be arranged for the filled bags which have been released by the holding members.

The T-shaped lever has for the movably arranged devices at least one roller and the control device is constructed as a cam rail having at least one vertical curve for cooperation with said roller. One such cam rail is therefore sufficient for all devices which are movable relatively to it. It can be arranged in stationary relationship with the fillingvand removal devices. Particularly in the case of a control device comprising a cam rail two groups of devices can be arranged in a simple manner on one machine and for each group a separate control device can be arranged in one machine. The two groups of devices need to differ only in the space between the cross beams of the T-shaped lever and the roller and the two control devices are constructed as guide rail curves offset with respect to one another both laterally and vertically. Two operating points can then be provided in the rises of these curves and the output of the machine thereby doubled. The devices of the two groups rotate alternately.

An advantageous structural simplification may be obtained by arranging several devices on a common holder and by associating a common control device with them. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a common holder for several devices is mounted on a turntable of a machine for movement with said turntable and the control device is mounted stationarily thereon. The common holder can thereby be constructed as a drum, advantageously as a polygonal drum. Thus, the protecting wall of each individual device provides a plane surface on which the opening mechanism can be advantageously mounted. The same embodiment can also be formed utilizing the abovedescribed two groups of devices.

In an advantageous further embodiment of the inventive device, the devices are provided as holding members each with a pair of pads adjusted 'to the shape of the container wall. Said pads are each in the zone of their upper edge mounted for cooperation with the compound lever arrangement in which the lower edges can be moved together for introduction into the container and can be moved apart for placing their outer surfaces against the inside wall of the container.

The pads provide holding members with an advantageously large engaging surface. Thus it is possible to keep relatively small the unit contact pressure required for holding the container. The container wall is thus protected and in case of bags and containers of similarly flexible material an excessive stretching is avoided. Also the removal of the filled containers can in this manner be accomplished with a minimum of force. On the other hand, the large engaging surface bearing against the container permits, if necessary, also the absorption of relatively high engaging pressures, so that large containers and/or containers filled with heavy material can be held. The placement of relatively light containers can be effected very quickly since no special care is required. The large contact surface in general renders it unimportant whether or not the pads penetrate more or less deeply into the container. Also no special projections and the like are provided which during careless handling can damage a flexible bag. The portions of the pad which project beyond the upper edge of the container during the holding operation form a fill edge. It does not only prevent loose material from falling off laterally of the container but permits also the formation of an accumulation projecting above the container edge. This loose material storage can be used to fill in the area in the removed container which was earlier taken up by the pads. Furthermore it assures that the container is full even when the loosely filled-in material has been compressed slightly.

The pads of each pair can be curved advantageously to define a convex outer form. The curved surfaces of the curved plates abut more evenly and more protectively the walls of the bags and other flexible containers than would straight surfaces. The containers are opened to a round shape and the filling material introduced thereinto is given a shape suitable for later trans fer into a flower pot.

The pads can advantageously be arranged removably on the compound lever arrangement. The device can then be adjusted easily to containers of different sizes and structures by providing pads of different size and of different shape and can thus be used in many cases. If the covers have a corresponding curvature and, if necessary, their contact surface is rough or is provided with a friction layer, the device can also be used for rigid containers, like flower pots, of clay or plastic.

For a device with an annular wall as common holder, which annular wall can be driven for a cyclic rotation, and a common control device which is fixed inside the annular wall, an annular surface projecting outwardly over the pads can be arranged rotating along on the annular wall, which annular surface has above each pair of pads a feed opening for the loose material. The annular surface prevents the loose material from falling off laterally and protects particularly the holding members and the lever mechanisms provided outside of the annular wall against fouling and resulting breakdowns. Furthermore the annular surface permits a continuous feeding in of the loose material independent from the operating cycle of the rotating device since the loose material remaining on the annular surface between the feed openings can be moved in a simple manner, for example by a stripping-off device, subsequently into the containers.

In a preferred embodiment of the device a vertically movable ejecting plunger for filled containers is arranged stationarily with respect to the control device above the annular surface in such a manner that it is positioned above a feed opening during each cycle. The ejecting plunger has several functions. During its downward movement through a feed opening into a filled container positioned therebelow it first compresses the loose material which has been introduced into the container and also presses the accumulated excess into the container. When a certain compression ratio has been reached, the pressure of the ejecting plungers acts to move the filled container is downwardly off from the pads. Thus the ejecting plunger both compresses the contents and ejects the container. Moreover, it controls in a simple manner the degree of fill of the containers. Should a container accidentally not be filled sufficiently, then the ejecting plunger finds no starting surface at its effective height and thus cannot eject the bag. A further advantage of the ejecting plunger is found in the exactly vertical ejecting movement thereof which causes the filled container to be aimed accurately onto a support provided under it. This minimizes the danger of a container upsetting. If in each cycle of operation there is provided a holder for the ejected container, under the ejecting plunger then the exact insertion of the container into the holder is assured.

The length of the stroke of the ejecting plunger is advantageously adjustable. It can thus be adjusted to each container size, also to the compression possibilities of the material introduced into the container.

For achieving a high degree of filling it is possible to arranged a compressing plate for the loose material in stationary relationship to the control device above the annular surface. An accumulation of loose material is thus formed in the direction of rotation of the annular surface in front of the compressing plate, under which accumulation the feed openings move and permit the loose material to fall into the container. It is particularly advantageous to mount the compressing plate in the zone of the loose material infeed. The compressing plate thus also prevents the loose material which did not fall through the feed opening from being carried around by the annular surface. In addition the annular surface can be enclosed by a vertical outside wall which prevents the loose material which remained between the feed openings from falling down and outwardly.

The contamination of the control device and the elements of the opening mechanism arranged inside the annular wall is prevented simply by covering the inner zone of the annular surface.

The device of the invention can advantageously be constructed as a structural unit with a support mechanism and a connection to a drive mechanism. Its usefulness is thus further increased. The device can with a separate drive and a separate feed device for loose material be used as a filling machine. In this case it can be associated with a separate conveying device for receiving the ejected filled containers. It is also possible to combine in many ways the device with a potting and repotting machine. It can be mounted also above its turntable and arranged drivably with it both concentrically and synchronously, as has already been described.

Furthermore the device constructed as a structural unit can be mounted with respect to the potting and repotting machine in such a manner that its annular surface partly projects over its turntable, that the soil conveyor of the potting and repotting machine opens in the zone of a cyclically stopping feed opening and a container ejected by the ejecting plunger is received onto the turntable. The turntable of the potting and repotting machine then takes over the further conveying of the filled containers, for example to a drilling device for a plant hole etc. In this arrangement the device is particularly accessible in the zone remote from the turntable. The compressing sheet is advantageously mounted in such a manner that it is in the zone of the loose material infeed. The device can in this arrangement be connected advantageously to the drive of the potting and repotting machine.

Support holders for receiving the filled containers can be arranged on a separate conveying device associated with the device, or on the turntable of a potting and repotting machine connected therewith. These support holders assure a safe standing of the filled containers, particularly if plants are still to be inserted into same. A particularly safe support is achieved if the support holders have walls which widen conically upwardly.

FIG. 1 illustrates a potting and repotting machine with several devices of the invention for holding of bags on a common drum-shaped holder;

FIG. 2 illustrates in an enlarged scale a device of the invention as seen from inside of the drum-shaped holder;

FIG. 3 illustrates the device according to FIG. 2 seen from outside;

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the drum-shaped holder with two bags;

FIG. 5 is a top view of one arm with fingers of the device;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the arm according to FIG.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of the fingers;

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified embodiment of the device on a potting and repotting machine according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 illustrates a detail of the device according to FIG. 3; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective illustration of a further embodiment.

The potting and repotting machine illustrated in FIG. I has on a common housing 1 a turntable 2, a feed device 3 for the loose material, particularly soil, and a drilling mechanism 4. The drilling mechanism 4 is used for drilling holes for plants into the soil filled into the bags and has drive means 4a for a special drill 4b and a sleevelike cover means 40 surrounding the drill.

A holder 5 is in the form of an octagonal drum which is open on its top and bottom and is releasably mounted on the turntable 2 by means of supports 6 in such a manner that it follows the rotary motion of the table. A device which is, as a whole, identified with 7 is arranged on each one of the eight wall surfaces 5a of the holder 5 for holding a bag, spreading same apart and holding it in spread-apart condition. A control device 8 stationarily arranged on the machine, that is, nonrotatably inside the drum, comprises a guide rail for all devices 7 together. Details of the devices 7 can be seen in an enlarged scale in FIGS. 2 and 3, whereby FIG. 2 illustrates the parts of the device 7 arranged inside the drum and FIG. 3 illustrates the parts of the device 7 arranged outside the drum.

The device 7 has a T-shaped lever 9 which is supported for adjustable vertical movement in a U-rail l0 fixed to the wall 5a. The lever 9 is supported with a roller 11 on the guide rail 8 which operates as a control device. A tension spring 12 engages each side of the cross beam of the T-shaped lever 9, which tension spring urges the lever toward the guide rail. A compound lever arrangement with a first pivotal lever 13 is hingedly connected to each free end of the T-lever. Each compound lever arrangement is further equipped with a toggle lever 14 and a second pivotal lever 15 which latter is provided on the outside of the drum wall a. The toggle lever 14 is with its one end hingedly connected to the first pivotal lever 13 and fixedly con nected to a shaft 16 on which the second pivotal lever is also secured by means of a nut 17. The shaft 16 extends through the drum wall 5a and is supported on the inside in a shackle 18.

As can particularly be seen from FIG. 1, each outer pivotal lever 15 carries an arm 19 projecting horizontally from said pivotal lever 15. Each arm 19 has two fingers 20. A longitudinal strip 21 is mounted on each arm.

The construction of an arm 19 with the fingers 20 and the longitudinal strips 21 can be seen in the enlarged detailed illustrations of FIGS. 5 to 7. The arm 19 has a circular cross section and the fingers are each constructed approximately in form of a pipe shell and have each an opening 22 for a clamping screw. Thus, they can be mounted at various distances on the arm 19. FIG. 7 also illustrates the longitudinal strip 21 which consists of sheet metal and is welded together with a finger 20. F IG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the inventive device which corresponds largely to FIG. 1. At the outer legs-15, however, there are arranged holding arms 119 instead of the arms 19, on which holding arms 119 a pad 120 is releasably secured along its upper edge. Each pad 120 has a curved cross section whereby the curvatures of each pair of pads belonging to one device is convex with respect to one another. Furthermore a cover 122, indicated only fragmentarily for reasons of a better understanding, is provided for the zone inside of the annular wall 5.

FIG. 10 illustrates in a highly schematized form a modified embodiment of the device of the invention. Same is constructed as an independent structural unit with a support mechanism 6a consisting of a base and a post which can be set up automatically. The annular wall 5 which is supported thereon is circular and has a vertically projecting annular surface 121 with feed openings 123 which are each over a pair of pads. The annular surface 121 is enclosed by a vertical outside wall 24. Only part of the pads 120 of the devices 7 are visible in FIG. 10. The components of the spreading mechanism which are inside the annular wall 5 cannot be seen because of the cover 122 while the components arranged outside the annular wall 5, other than the pads 120, are covered by the annular surface 121 provided thereabove. Directly above the annular surface 121 and approximately radially thereto there is nonrotatably mounted a compressing plate 25. Furthermore, an ejecting plunger 26 which can move vertically following the arrow A by the power device 26 is associated with the device. It is, in the embodiment of FIG. 10, arranged on a potting and repotting machine of which a section of the turntable 2 schematically a feed device 3 for the loose material and a box 27 containing drive motor and control devices for the potting and repotting machine are illustrated. Support holders 28 for filled containers are indicated on the turntable 2. The device which is constructed unitarily is associated with the potting and repotting machine in such a manner that a portion of the annular surface projects over the turntable 2, that the feed device 3 opens above the annular surface 121 and the compressing plate is provided in said area and that the device can be connected by suitable means (not illustrated) to the drive of the potting and repotting machine. The members provided herefor, which are not illustrated, are arranged underneath the turntable.

' The operation of the device of the invention is first described in connection with the example of FIG. 1: The arms 19 with the fingers 20 are used to grip, to open and to keep open a bag 23 until it is filled and, if necessary, until a plant is inserted into a soil filling. At the end of a cycle the arms 19 release the bag 25. FIG. 4 illustrates a schematized top view of a drum-shaped holder 5 in which in general the devices 7 are only indicated by the transverse axes 16, the nuts 17 and the U- rails 10. Moreover, the second pivotal levers 15, the arms 19 and the fingers 20 can be seen on two wall portions 5a, namely in two different operating positions. The same variable operating positions are indicated in FIG. 3, one in dashed lines. The arms 19 in the position indicated with A in FIGS. 3 and 4 (in dashed lines in FIG. 3) are close to one another. An operator holds loosely a bag 23 with its upper edge over the fingers 20. Through the action of the spreading system which will be described hereinafter, the second pivotal levers 15 move into the position B and thereby extend the bag 23 as can be seen in FIG. 4. The position B is thereby adjusted to the dimensions of the bag 23 in such a manner that the fingers 20 are slightly bent and press somewhat into the walls of the bag and thus hold same without requiring any further fastening means. In order to be able to use the device for bags with different dimensions, both the second pivotal arms 15 and also the arms 19 can be changed. Furthermore the fingers 20 can be adjusted with respect to their distance from one another. The turntable 2 moves the opened bags past the feed device 3 for the till material, for example flower soil, and, if necessary, to the drilling mechanism 4 for a plant hole. Finally the bag reaches a storage place where the swinging levers 15 return into the position A and release the bag. It can be removed by an operator or it can be placed automatically onto a further conveyor means.

The movement of the second pivotal levers 15 through the spreading system is effected by the control device 8 in the following manner: The T-shaped lever is maintained in a lower position by the spring 12, which position acts through the compound lever arrangement to cause the second pivotal levers to take their position B. In the zones of the machine in which the position A is required, thus at the stations for attaching and for removing the bags, the guide rail 8 forms an upward curve which through the roller 11 causes the lifting of the T-shaped lever 9. This causes pivotal movement of the first pivotal lever 13, of the toggle lever 14 and thus of the outer swinging lever 15 into the position A. This position is illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the guide roller 8 is arranged as a short curved section only where it is to effect the lifting of the T-shaped lever 9. Thus, immediately after the bag is attached, it again releases the T-shaped lever so that it permits same to move immediately in response to the springs 12 into the position B and thus very quickly and automatically holds the bags. This makes possible an advantageous operating speed.

The longitudinal strip 21 arranged on the arms or the fingers illustrates in the case of opened bags an artificial upward extension of the sidewalls thereof and thus permits an accumulation of the fill material which can enter the bag during the settling and compressing of the fill material and can thus effect a complete filling.

The device of FIG. 8 operates in the same manner, only that there the container is guided over the pads which are swung together and is then held by their swinging-apart and pressing in to the container wall. In the device according to FIG. 10, the annular wall is rotated cyclically in direction of the arrow B through the drive connection (not illustrated) to the potting and repotting machine, whereby the spreading mechanisms of the device 7 cause the pads 120 to move toward or away from one another in the described manner. The work station for attaching a container is in the foreground of the drawing, thus in the area of the device remote from the turntable. During a cyclic standstill of the device, the bag can be attached. Also during the standstill, the loose material which has been supplied accumulates in front of the compressing plate 25. During the rotating part of a cycle, as soon as a feed opening 23 appears under said accumulation, the accumulated loose material falls into the bag which causes a quick and complete filling. During further movement beyond the compressing plate, further fill material can flow in.

The device is associated with the turntable and the ejecting plunger in such a manner that at each rest section of the cycle, the ejecting plunger is positioned above a feed opening and that at the same time a support holder 28 stands below the ejecting plunger on the turntable 2. The ejecting plunger moves downwardly driven by the power device 26 and first compresses the contents in the container and then removes the container downwardly from the pads. The container is thereby moved exactly vertically into the support holder whose conical walls then hold the container. The turntable 2 conveys the filled containers, if desired, to a drilling device like in FIG. 1 and to an operating station for inserting a plant, while an empty support holder is being moved under the ejecting plunger. The now free pair of pads are swung toward one another during further rotation of the device in the manner which has already been described so that a new container can be attached. The ejecting plunger 26 can, in case of an arrangement like in FIG. 4, be connected to a moving mechanism which also moves a drill up or downwardly. However, it is also possible to arrange a suitable moving mechanism on a unitary device.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Thus, the spreading system can be provided with a different elevation-adjustable support element. The elevation adjustment can in a reverse manner cause the swinging movement of the arms approximately in such a manner that the position A is determined by the accumulator and the position B by a control device. In place of two springs, it is also possible to provide a centrally arranged spring. Each device can be arranged individually on the turntable with a holder of any type of construction whereby, however, the protecting effect of the drum wall 5a exists no longer. The device can be arranged individually or on a common holder and can also be arranged along an elongated conveyor station. v

The adjustment of the finger distance can also be done by means of a spring which is arranged between both fingers. The longitudinal strip 21 can, as also the fingers 20, consist of other material, for example plastic. Furthermore, the longitudinal strip can be arranged directly fixedly or releasably on the arm.

It is possible to permit the unitary device to operate as an automatically operating machine, independently from the potting and repotting machine. For this purpose, it is necessary only to provide aseparate drive which also operates the ejecting plunger and a separate feed device for the loose material must be provided. Further, a separate conveyor mechanism for receiving the ejected filled containers can then be associated with the device. In this manner the device can be used for filling any type of loose material and thus is not limited to horticulture. Thus groceries, like corn or flower, but also chemical products, like cement, coloring substances and others, can be filled.

I claim:

1. A filling device for filling containers with a loose, flowable, compressible material, comprising:

means defining a rotatable turntable;

a pair of container holding members;

pivotable support means on said turntable for pivotably supporting said holding members toward and away from each other, said container holding members each engaging the interior surface of a container when said holding members have been moved away from each other;

a vertically movable T-shaped member mounted on said turntable and movable therewith for controlling said movement of said holding members;

connecting means for connecting the zones adjacent the opposite ends of the cross beam on said T- shaped member to said pivotable support means so that a vertical movement of said T-shaped member in one vertical direction will effect a movement of said holding member toward each other and a vertical movement of said T-shaped member in the other vertical direction effecting a movement of said holding members away from each other; and

actuating means against which said vertically movable T-shaped member periodically engages during a rotation of said turntable to effect a vertical movement of said T-shaped member and a corresponding movement of said holding members.

2. A filling device according to claim 1, wherein said turntable comprises an annular hollow drum rotatably supported about a vertical axis, said T-shaped member being supported on said drum for vertical movement parallel to the surface of said drum;

wherein said pivotable support means comprises a pair of spaced and rotatable shafts extending transversely to said drum surface, each shaft having one of said holding members secured thereto and rotatable therewith, each of said shafts having further means thereon defining a lever extending radially outwardly therefrom and rotatable therewith; and

wherein said connecting means comprises a linkage member pivotably connecting the ends of said T- shaped member and said lever means on said shafts.

3. A filling device according to claim 2, including resilient means on said turntable for biasing said T- shaped member toward a position wherein said holding members are moved away from each other.

4. A filling device according to claim 2, wherein said holding members are secured to said shafts on one side of said drum surface and said T-shaped member is secured to said lever means on said shafts on the opposite side of said drum surface.

S. A filling device according to claim 3, wherein said drum is of a polygon shape.

6. A filling device according to claim 2, including cover means covering the upper end of said annular, hollow, drum.

7. A filling device according to claim 2, wherein the T-shaped member has at least one roller thereon and said actuating means is constructed as a guide rail for the roller, said guide rail having at least one vertical curve 8. A filling device according to claim 3, wherein each of said holding members comprises an arm extending radially outwardly from said shaft and terminating in container gripping means which are adapted to engage said interior of said container.

9. A filling device according to claim 3, wherein said resilient means consists of at least one spring engaging the T-shaped lever.

10. A filling device according to claim 8, wherein said container gripping means comprises a second arm releasably secured to said first mentioned arm and extends perpendicularly outwardly therefrom and has at least one finger mounted thereon.

11. A filling device according to claim 8, wherein said container gripping means comprise a pad secured to said arm and which are conformed to the shape of the interior of said container, said pads being each in the zone of their upper edge secured to said arm secured to said shaft, the lower edges of said pads, when moveed together, defining a wedge for introduction into said container.

12. A filling device according to claim 8, including a material feeder having an annular surface rotatably arranged on the annular drum, said annular surface projecting outwardly over said container gripping means and has over each pair of container gripping means means defining a feed opening for the loose material.

[3. A filling device according to claim 12, wherein said material feeder comprises a vertically movable ejecting plunger and drive means therefor and periodi- 12 cally aligned with said feeding opening.

14. A filling device according to claim 13, wherein stationarily to the control device above the annular surface there is arranged a compressing plate for the loose material.

15. A filling device according to claim 13, wherein the annular surface is enclosed by a vertical outside wall.

16. A filling device according to claim 12, wherein said material feeder is constructed as a structural unit having a support mechanism.

17. A filling device according to claim 16, wherein said material feeder is mounted with respect to a potting and repotting machine with said annular surface partly projecting over said turntable so that a feed device for the soil of the potting and reporting machine discharges onto said material feeder in the zone of said feed opening, said container being ejected by the ejecting plunger onto the turntable after said container has been filled.

18. A filling device according to claim 17, including support holders for receiving the filled containers and being arranged on the turntable of the potting and repotting machine.

19. A filling device according to claim 18, wherein said support holders have walls which widen upwardly conically.

20. A filling device according to claim 10, wherein said at least one finger is mounted longitudinally adjustably on said second arm.

21. A filling device according to claim 20, wherein each of said second arms has a longitudinal strip placed thereon in a position approximately extending the width of said container.

22. A filling device according to claim 4, wherein said drum contains a bearing for said shaft and said shaft extends therethrough.

23. A filling device according to claim 11, wherein said pads of each pair are curved to define a convex outer form. 

1. A filling device for filling containers with a loose, flowable, compressible material, comprising: means defining a rotatable turntable; a pair of container holding members; pivotable support means on said turntable for pivotably supporting said holding members toward and away from each other, said container holding members each engaging the interior surface of a container when said holding members have been moved away from each other; a vertically movable T-shaped member mounted on said turntable and movable therewith for controlling said movement of said holding members; connecting means for connecting the zones adjacent the opposite ends of the cross beam on said T-shaped member to said pivotable support means so that a vertical movement of said Tshaped member in one vertical direction will effect a movement of said holding member toward each other and a vertical movement of said T-shaped member in the other vertical direction effecting a movement of said holding members away from each other; and actuating means against which said vertically movable T-shaped member periodically engages during a rotation of said turntable to effect a vertical movement of said T-shaped member and a corresponding movement of said holding members.
 2. A filling device according to claim 1, wherein said turntable comprises an annular hollow drum rotatably supported about a vertical axis, said T-shaped member being supported on said drum for vertical movement parallel to the surface of said drum; wherein said pivotable support means comprises a pair of spaced and rotatable shafts extending transversely to said drum surface, each shaft having one of said holding members secured thereto and rotatable therewith, each of said shafts having further means thereon defining a lever exteNding radially outwardly therefrom and rotatable therewith; and wherein said connecting means comprises a linkage member pivotably connecting the ends of said T-shaped member and said lever means on said shafts.
 3. A filling device according to claim 2, including resilient means on said turntable for biasing said T-shaped member toward a position wherein said holding members are moved away from each other.
 4. A filling device according to claim 2, wherein said holding members are secured to said shafts on one side of said drum surface and said T-shaped member is secured to said lever means on said shafts on the opposite side of said drum surface.
 5. A filling device according to claim 3, wherein said drum is of a polygon shape.
 6. A filling device according to claim 2, including cover means covering the upper end of said annular, hollow, drum.
 7. A filling device according to claim 2, wherein the T-shaped member has at least one roller thereon and said actuating means is constructed as a guide rail for the roller, said guide rail having at least one vertical curve.
 8. A filling device according to claim 3, wherein each of said holding members comprises an arm extending radially outwardly from said shaft and terminating in container gripping means which are adapted to engage said interior of said container.
 9. A filling device according to claim 3, wherein said resilient means consists of at least one spring engaging the T-shaped lever.
 10. A filling device according to claim 8, wherein said container gripping means comprises a second arm releasably secured to said first mentioned arm and extends perpendicularly outwardly therefrom and has at least one finger mounted thereon.
 11. A filling device according to claim 8, wherein said container gripping means comprise a pad secured to said arm and which are conformed to the shape of the interior of said container, said pads being each in the zone of their upper edge secured to said arm secured to said shaft, the lower edges of said pads, when moveed together, defining a wedge for introduction into said container.
 12. A filling device according to claim 8, including a material feeder having an annular surface rotatably arranged on the annular drum, said annular surface projecting outwardly over said container gripping means and has over each pair of container gripping means means defining a feed opening for the loose material.
 13. A filling device according to claim 12, wherein said material feeder comprises a vertically movable ejecting plunger and drive means therefor and periodically aligned with said feeding opening.
 14. A filling device according to claim 13, wherein stationarily to the control device above the annular surface there is arranged a compressing plate for the loose material.
 15. A filling device according to claim 13, wherein the annular surface is enclosed by a vertical outside wall.
 16. A filling device according to claim 12, wherein said material feeder is constructed as a structural unit having a support mechanism.
 17. A filling device according to claim 16, wherein said material feeder is mounted with respect to a potting and repotting machine with said annular surface partly projecting over said turntable so that a feed device for the soil of the potting and repotting machine discharges onto said material feeder in the zone of said feed opening, said container being ejected by the ejecting plunger onto the turntable after said container has been filled.
 18. A filling device according to claim 17, including support holders for receiving the filled containers and being arranged on the turntable of the potting and repotting machine.
 19. A filling device according to claim 18, wherein said support holders have walls which widen upwardly conically.
 20. A filling device according to claim 10, wherein said at least one finger is mounted longitudinally adjustably on said second arm.
 21. A filling device according to claim 20, wherein eacH of said second arms has a longitudinal strip placed thereon in a position approximately extending the width of said container.
 22. A filling device according to claim 4, wherein said drum contains a bearing for said shaft and said shaft extends therethrough.
 23. A filling device according to claim 11, wherein said pads of each pair are curved to define a convex outer form. 